Tino Carnevale explains why there are different styles of garden hoe, and shows which is the best one for each job. Subscribe 🔔 ab.co/GA-subscribe
Hoes are one of the oldest tools used in agriculture and are great for shaping and clearing soils, harvesting root crops and weeding.
But with more than 30 different varieties, it’s important to know which hoe is best for the task in hand.
The best time to weed with a hoe is when weeds are small seedlings - by the time they’ve developed a decent taproot you’ll have to get them out with a mini mattock or other digging tool. Hoes are designed to disturb just the top level of soil, where the young roots are growing, allowing you to dislodge the weeds around a row of vegies without disturbing the crop itself.
Loop/Slide Hoes:
A loop or slide hoe is shaped like a stirrup with a hole in the middle and flat base, and is designed to be slid just under the soil, working mostly forwards or away from the gardener. Some have a divot on the end so the head can move slightly, making it work in either a pulling or pushing movement. You can get in close to plants without disturbing them.
Dutch Hoe:
The Dutch hoe has a few different forms - the one Tino is using has a flat, broad, fixed head that is used in a pushing motion. The long handle means no bending and you can reach a wide area. You can slide it under mulch to cut off young weeds.
Swan-necked Hoe:
For chipping Tino recommends a swan-necked hoe, which can be used with a downwards motion to break up soil or chip out larger weeds in the garden. Some of these have flat bases, while others have a pointed base and torpedo hoes have a ‘football’-shaped oval end, so it can be used for detailed work on either side as well as scraping. They’re all great for turning over neglected garden beds.
Hoes for Weeding:
There are hoes with two or three curved tines at the end, which are used for digging out weeds in light soils rather than scraping and are good for weeds that form a rosette.
Due-headed Hoes:
There are also hoes that combine both these styles, with a two-headed end, incorporating a wide blade on one side and forked prongs on the other. Often these come with a short handle for close-up work rather than a long handle that you use standing up.
Maintaining hoes is simple - keep blades sharp and give them a wipe down after use.
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